Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Jersey Girl (& Boy)

We spent almost a decade away from New Jersey, where both of us were born and raised. There was a lot we came to love about the Baltimore-DC area, and we really do miss it, but as our 20s waned, we really found ourselves missing our home state. Where else can you can ski, swim in the ocean, and visit farm country, all just an hour away from New York City? There's the literary legacy of Paterson, the pomp and circumstance of Princeton, the colorful populism of underdog Newark, and the Appalachian enclaves of Sussex County's cow country, not to mention the nation's largest poetry festival. Of course, a trip down the Turnpike illustrates where Jersey gets its negative stereotype, but what many don't realize is that Manhattan's finest restaurants would be lost without the excellent products from our favorite local creameries and farms.

4 comments:

I know of a state that's a perfect playland with white sandy beaches by the sea;With fun-filled mountains, lakes and parks, and folks with hospitality;With historic towns where battles were fought, and presidents have made their home;It's called New Jersey, and I toast and tout it wherever I may roam. 'Cause . . .

First Chorus

I'M FROM NEW JERSEY and I'm proud about it, I love the Garden State.I'M FROM NEW JERSEY and I want to shout it, I think it's simply great.All of the other states throughout the nation may mean a lot to some;But I wouldn't want another, Jersey is like no other, I'm glad that's where I'm from.Second Chorus

If you want glamour, try Atlantic City or Wildwood by the sea;Then there is Trenton, Princeton, and Fort Monmouth, they all made history.Each little town has got that certain something, from High Point to Cape May;And some place like Mantoloking, Phillipsburg, or Hoboken will steal your heart away.

Two comments! MK, you really do mean business. Now I've got to reciprocate.

I listened to that song, Christina, and it reminds me of Tori's song about Baltimore--so servicey it makes me cringe and laugh. Also, I can't imagine Phillipsburg stealing anyone's heart away, except maybe all those ex-cons who live there.